Over 32 people rescued, 1 dead at Azerbaijan’s offshore Guneshli field (UPDATING 6)

17:31 (GMT+4) Over 32 people have been rescued and 1 person has died at Azerbaijan's offshore Guneshli field, Trend was told Dec.5 at the special headquarters established to handle the incident.

17:15 (GMT+4) Over 30 people have been rescued at Azerbaijan's offshore Guneshli field, SOCAR said.

14:20 (GMT+4) Over 25 people have been rescued at Azerbaijan's offshore Guneshli field, according to the latest data.

13:28 (GMT+4) Five people, including one woman have been rescued at Azerbaijan's offshore Guneshli field where a strong fire broke out Dec.4, Trend was told Dec.5 at the special headquarters established to handle the incident.

11:38 (GMT+4) Work is underway on evacuating the staff on the production platform at Azerbaijan's Guneshli offshore field, where a strong fire broke out Dec.4, Trend was told Dec.5 at the special headquarters established to handle the incident.

10:19 (GMT+4) Officials of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan and Azneft production association, as well as employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations have arrived at the scene, Trend was told at the special headquarters established to handle the incident.

"The fire on the field continues, since it is difficult to extinguish it due to the strong wind and high waves," the source in the headquarters said. "No human losses, the whole staff is on lifeboats in the sea. Work on evacuating is underway."

08:42 (GMT+4) The fire on a production platform at Azerbaijan's offshore Guneshli field, which broke out on Friday night is still continuing, Trend was told at the headquarters established to handle the incident.

"Currently, SOCAR leadership took off to the platform. Oil workers, who were on the platform are still on the boats in the sea," the source said.

04-12-2015

22:52 (GMT+4) No human losses have been reported as a result of the fire on a production platform at Azerbaijan's offshore Guneshli field on Dec.4, president of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Rovnag Abdullayev told local ANS TV channel.

20:48 (GMT+4) Oil workers, who were on the production platform at the Azerbaijani Guneshli offshore field, are being evacuated on boats, a source on the oil market told Trend.

A strong fire took place at the Guneshli offshore field Dec.4, the source said, adding that no injuries were reported. It was also said that the fire still continues.

The ignition started at the platform No.10 of this field, where the Azerbaijani SOCAR company produces oil and gas through its own funds.

SOCAR said that the fire at the platform was caused by the windstorm, which damaged a gas line.

A special headquarters has been created in connection with this incident, according to the company.

Despite the fact that the evacuation began immediately, problems emerged with the approach of ships because of high waves. However, despite this fact, the evacuation is being carried out with the help of the ships of the ministry of emergency situations, as well as diving vessels and tugs.

The source has told Trend that, the platform's personnel is currently in boats in the sea.

"Currently, it is impossible to pick up people [from the boats] due to the weather conditions," he added. "This will be possible when the wind calms down."

"It is also extremely hard to extinguish fire in such weather condition. The strong wind spreads the fire, while waves prevent ships from sailing closer," noted the source.